| Cichla temensis | |
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| Typical Adult above, breeding below | |
Scientific classification
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cichliformes |
| Family: | Cichlidae |
| Genus: | Cichla |
| Species: | C. temensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Cichla temensis
Humboldt, 1821
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Cichla temensis, the speckled pavon, speckled peacock bass, painted pavon, or three-barred peacock bass, is a very large South American cichlid, and a prized food and game fish. Reaching up to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length and 13 kg (29 lb) in weight, it is the largest cichlid of the Americas, and perhaps the largest extant cichlid in the world, [2] with only the African giant cichlid (Boulengerochromis microlepis) possibly reaching similar proportions. [3]
Range
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C. temensis is native to the Orinoco and Rio Negro basins, as well as several smaller rivers in the central Amazon ( Uatumã, Preto da Eva, Puraquequara, and Tefé), in Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana. [4] [5] In its native range, it is essentially restricted to blackwater rivers and their tributaries. [5]
Introduction attempts have been made outside its native range, but it has not managed to become established in Florida or Texas. [6] In contrast, it has flourished in tropical Singapore [7][ unreliable source?] and Malaysia.[ citation needed]
Appearance
C. temensis resembles other peacock bass species, but is generally more elongated and slender in shape. [5] Adults are highly variable in colour pattern, which has historically caused some problems, with some speculating that the variants were separate species or males/females. [8] Only in 2012 was it firmly established that dark individuals with a dense light-speckled pattern are the nonbreeders, while breeding adults are more golden- olive and lack the pale speckles, but have three broad, dark bars on their bodies and a very vibrant ventral region. [8] During the breeding season, some males also develop a bulbous forehead. Between the two extremes are several intermediate patterns. [8] No other peacock bass species is known to have such extreme variations among the adults. [8]
References
- ^ Frederico, R.G. (2023). "Cichla temensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023: e.T164491891A164491901. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T164491891A164491901.en. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ Reis, P. (2015), Aspects of life history of Cichla temensis (Perciformes: Cichlidae) and its relationship to the Amazon basin's flood pulse, Rutgers University
- ^ "The 10 biggest cichlids". Practical Fishkeeping. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2017). "Cichla temensis" in FishBase. October 2017 version.
- ^ a b c Kullander, Sven; Efrem Ferreira (2006). "A review of the South American cichlid genus Cichla, with descriptions of nine new species (Teleostei: Cichlidae)". Ichthyological Explorations of Freshwaters. 17 (4).
- ^ Nico, L. (2011). Cichla temensis. USGS, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL, USAA
- ^ "Peacock Bass (introduced)". Ecology Asia. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
- ^ a b c d Reiss, P.; K.W. Able; M.S. Nunes; T. Hrbek (2012). "Color pattern variation in Cichla temensis (Perciformes: Cichlidae): resolution based on morphological, molecular, and reproductive data". Neotrop. Ichthyol. 10 (1): 59–70. doi: 10.1590/S1679-62252012000100006.